A pregnant school employee in New South Wales has been refused bail after being charged with serious child abuse offences, raising the possibility that she could give birth while in custody. The case matters because of the gravity of the allegations, the involvement of child abuse material, and the court’s view that the claims were too disturbing to justify her release before trial.

According to the report, the woman, aged 22, was arrested in Gilgandra and faced court accused of possessing and using child abuse material, including alleged images of the sexual assault of a baby. The magistrate denied bail, citing the disturbing nature of the evidence, and the case was adjourned for further proceedings. The article says she worked at a school and is due to give birth in the coming months, which has drawn added attention to the custody decision.